Unusually quick cycle?

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Otto_VonBacon

Otto_VonBacon

Jack Dempsey
MFK Member
Nov 16, 2008
1,354
1
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Montgomery TEXAS
Today was the first time i tested my new 90 gallon's water after i set it up about a week ago, it had 81 pounds of cured live rock, and live sand.

I extracted the water from the sump, if that has anything to do with it.
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I know ammonia spikes first, so I don't know, is it just starting? I thought having live rock and sand made it go faster... it took a week just to spike ammonia...:cry:
 
Weylin;2818263; said:
Thats a bit long..

Can one use FW test kits for SW tanks ? and do they have an expiry date..?
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Well, the ammonia is the only one that's FW, the rest came in a reef master test kit.

I went out to buy a separate ammonia, and they only sold freshwater. but it's always been accurate.
 
As it turns out, the ammonia came with a Saltwater test card, i guess i grabbed the wrong card.

Results:

Nitrate: 0
Nitrite: 0
Ammonia: .25
 
yes fresh and salt ammonia testing is different, made up of a different reaction to get the reading. And also, they can expire. Not truley expire but the older the test solution is, the worst the results will be. IMO its always wise to buy what you will use soon, and buy quality product.

Your cycle has JUST started, you have a long road ahead of you as i say, only a few weeks really but still!!!! When you see nitrite spike, you will then see nitrate spike. The ammonia will fall to 0 and then the nitrite will fall to 0. When this happens, you are cycled. Do a water change to lessen the nitrate reading, which will only climb as the water ages, thus one of the reasons for weekly water changes.
 
sweeTang21;2822577; said:
yes fresh and salt ammonia testing is different, made up of a different reaction to get the reading. And also, they can expire. Not truley expire but the older the test solution is, the worst the results will be. IMO its always wise to buy what you will use soon, and buy quality product.

Your cycle has JUST started, you have a long road ahead of you as i say, only a few weeks really but still!!!! When you see nitrite spike, you will then see nitrate spike. The ammonia will fall to 0 and then the nitrite will fall to 0. When this happens, you are cycled. Do a water change to lessen the nitrate reading, which will only climb as the water ages, thus one of the reasons for weekly water changes.
Click to expand...

Yup, been through it before, just thought ammonia would spike faster.

Thanks.
 
Live rock and live sand.

Diatoms are starting to bloom today. It's probably going normal, I'm just being impatient.
 
and thats what gets us in trouble. Id just walk away for a while, add a frozen shrimp or something to increase the ammonia and let it be.
 
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